Electric-current-control switch



March 12, 1929. G. E. KRAEMER 1,705,125

ELECTRIC CURRENT `CONTROL SWITCH Filed Nov. 3, 1925 I f 27 al gwwnlot .Z' n cewE/fmmef, E@ /q Mw Patented Mar. 12, 1929.

UNITE!) STATES GEORGE E. KRAEMER, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

ELECTRIC-CURRENT-CONTROL SWITCH.

Application ated November An object of my invention is to provide a mechanism for auttnnatically illuminating the interior of an ice-boX, telephone booth, or other compartment into which a persn enters and closes the door thereof upon himself.

Another objecty is to provide a mechanism for a compartment which will close an electric circuit upon the opening ot the door ot' said compartment.. retaining the circuit in a closed position during` 'the time that a person remains therein with the door in the closed position, and then break the circuit upon the closing ot the door atter exit ot' the person from the compartment. n

Another object is to provide a device of such construction as to permit the utilization of standard tiXtui-es which may le bought on the market.

A Yfurther object ot my invention is to provide a device oi a construction which permits ready replacement ot broken or worn units there-ot at low cre-it.

These and other eijects are attained by the means described Inerein and disclosed in the accompanying,l drawings, in which:

Fie'. 1 is a traginental lfront view ot a chamber or compartment such as an ice box havingr embodied therein a device of inv invention.

.Figi 2 is an enlarged sectional view on line 2 2 ot Fig. 1.

We'. il is a diagrammatic representation of the wiring; and associated parts oi" the derico ot my invention in a normally inoperative position.

lfm'. Lt is a similar view showing the retation oll parts at'ter a person has opened the door and entered the compartment, the closingthe circuiV and lighting the interio: otl the compartment.

Fic'. 5 shows diagijrammatically the, device ot my invention when a person has closed the door behind hini on entering the compartaient.

Fig. (3 shows diagrammaticaliy the relation ot parts assumed by the device when the door is opened a second time to permit exit ot a person from the compartment or chamber.

Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic representation of a three point switch used in my device.

An ice-box 7 has the usual door 5, sash 9 and ceiling 1t) and is provided interior-ly with an electric lamp 11, which is Wired in parallel with an indicator lamp 12 disposed 3, 1925. Serial No. 66,650.

outside the ice-bo); at any convenient location. In ice-boxes provided with windows, the lamp 12 may be dispensed with as it merely indi lates whether or not the light inside the ice-box is lit.

Secure to the sash 9 adjacent the door 8 are electricy switches 13, 14e and 15, the switch l?) being of the momentary contact type and operated b v an insulated push button 16. Dcpressingf the button 1G as shown in Fig'. 3, opens the switch. The switch held closed by the compression ot' spring 1T within said switch, as shown kin Fig. 4. Switches 14 and 15, operated by insulated push buttons 18 and 19 respectively, are preferably of the rotary action type, in which succeesive depressions ot a push but;- ton will alternately open and close the circuit of that switch. These switches ma v be separate or combined in one casing, as' desired. Secured to the door 8, by means et screws 2t), are brackets 21 and 22 each o' which carries a rubber covered or otherwise resilientl roller 23 for engagement with the push buttons 16 and 1t). Fie'. 2 showsA the preferred method for mounting' the rollers. that, is, on U-shaped members 2-1 secured to a horizontal tace 25 of the bracket 22. Brackets 21 and 22 are similar. Obviously.

the rollers 23 of brackets 21 and 22 contact the switch buttons 1G and 15) respectively only when the door is in the closed position. lt should be noted that switches 14 and 213 normally retain thc positions shown in Figi'. Switch 14 is inserted in the circuit merelyr to permit inanually operated lighting in the event oli the automatic means becoming,y inoperative due to breakage or the, like. The function ot' switch 2G will hc set forth later.

In using' the automatic means, which is the means normally in operation on the device, the only switches that are actuated are the momentary contact switch 13 and the rotary switch 15. It should loe noted that switch 1?) is open while the door t is closed, as shown in Figs. 3 and 5, and upon opening of the door, the switch is closed b v the action ot spring 17, as shown in Figs. 1- and (3,.

Referring' to the diagrams, one lead-io wire ot the circuit has, in series, a lamp 12 or a plurality ot' lamps, and the movable contact 37 of the three point rotary switch 15. The two fixed contacts 31 and 38 o'f switch 15 have shunted across them the monientary Contact switch 13 in series with the single pole switch 14. It isthe tendency of compression spring 17 to hold the reciprocable conductor 29 in engagement with contacts 27 and 28 of switch' 18. Theengagrement of roller 23 on bracket 21 with the push button 1G, however, holds the switch in an open position when the door closed, as shown by Figs. 3 and A three point switch 26, used for manually operating the lights 11 and 12 has its two tixed conta tz" 32 and 40 electrically connected to the two tixed contacts 31 and IES respectivehY ot switch 15. The purpose of such connection is to selectively close a circuit through either of the contacts 31 and 3S ot switch l5.

From the foregoing), it will be apparent that in Fig. 3, the door is closed and no cnc rent may pass over main line 30, through lamps 11 and 12, then to contacts 87 and 38 of switch 15, and through the shunt circuit to line 33, because the shunt circuit across terminals 31 and 38 is open at switch 13, due to the door being in a closed position neither will the current pass through contact 37 to 38 and then over conductor 41 to terminal 4() of switch 26, as terminal 4() is not connected to main line 33. Therefore, the lamps 11 and 12 will not burn.

In Fig. 4 the door S has been opened and roller 23 secured thereto leaves switch 13, allowingl spring 17 to actuate the switch tor closing the circuit of the shunt. Here, current coming over conductor 30, passesy through lights 11 and 12 to Contact 87, and since conductor 41 is open at 40, the current follows the path through contact $58, switch 13, switch 14, contact 31, over conductor 42 to contact 32 of switch 26 and thence through movable contact 433 to main line 33, thus completing the circuit und lighting the lamps.

Similarly in Fig. 5, wherein it is assumed that a person has entered and enel-:wed himH seit' within the.ice box. current upon reaching movable contact 37, which has been moved by closing of the door, to engage contact 31, passes over conductor 42 to the lixefl contact 32 of switch 26 and then to contact 43 to complete the circuit. lt should he noted that in this operation, the switch 123 again opens the shunt circuit and no current flows therethrough, but nevertheless the circuit is closed by passing` of current over wire or conductor 42 and the lamps ccntinue to burn.

In Fig. 6 the assumption is that the person within desires to leave the ice box and has opened the door. The contact 37 ot switch 15 has not moved because on opening' of the door 8 there is no depression ot the push button 19. Deprei-:sion of `l push button is caused only by `closing` ot the door. Current reaching; movable contact 37, as in the foregoing explanations, passes through contact 81, conductor 42 to terminal 32 oi switch 26, through contact 43 to niain line 33. thus retaining' the lamps in a closed circuit wherefore they continue to burn until the door again closed and the paris are rcturned to the positions and relations indicated in 3.

The operation of the device is as follows:

rllhe device is assumed to be installed on the ice box ot a meat market, and a person wishes to enter the ice box and remove objects theretroni. llnder the above assumption. the door will be in the pm ition shown in lt`igs. 1 and 2. and Fie'. *i will represent the rrlaivc positions, e switches 1nd door` lt should be noted Yhat due to the relative positions` of switches 13 and 2G. current canin 'tlow and consequently the lights l l and l2 "ill not burn. The man now opens the door to enter the icc-hox, and ininiediately upon slightly opening it, switch 1I? chr-.es the circuit shown by Fig. 4, and en wat is allowed to tlow through the swicy 12S, 14 and 2G. and causo the lights 11 und 12 to buro. Having` opened the door and entered the. ice box, the man now closes the door behind hun and attends to his work in:

c the ice box. The relation ot the port-1` is shiiiwn now by Fig. It should be noted that upon closing;` of the door, roller 23 actuated switch 15 'for connecting the line 3() with the third contact 3l ot the switch 15. which .leads directly to the terminal 32 of switch 26, which communicates wiffh main ii ie thus retainingY the circuit in a closed condition and causing' the lightsy to contir burninpf. The man inside the ice box nov.Y opens the door to leave the ice box', und the various parts af'inic the positions shown in Figi'. (5, wherein s :itch 13 closes. due Vto the action oi" spring,r 17 operating' while the door iva open, The circuit is .still closed. :and the, lumps ieninin lirl'lted until tinalliy closing-j door 8. whereupon tile condition shown by Fiji. 2l again exists. As dif-closed therein. :onyiti'h l5 has operaie-l to move troni the position shown in Fig. (S to that shown in Fig. 3. und the momentary contact switch 17), has opened by reason ot the closing et he door :rrd constonent contzn t ot the roller 3 with the push bulten 1G. The lights are icre'iiore extinguished. lt is thus seen that person entering,T an ice box. telephone booth, or the like is provided with light while he is inside such compartment.. and also that said con'ipartnicnt is without light while not in use. Thus :i saying of much current is etfected. especially where a plinfality ot lights is used. Fui th-el'inorc, the heat radiated bv some lamps is very undesirable, es in an ice box or in a very small compartment.

In the event that a person is within an ice box and a second person wishes to enter, it becomes necessary to change the sequence of the various operations of the switches,

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which ic. readily accompliuhed by actuation of the three point switch 26 by the Second person. For example. a person ie; within the box. and therefore the diagram ot Fifi'. 5 repreilente `the relation of the parte. Now. should a I econd person open the door and enter, the icondition represented in Fig. (3 would exist, and Subsequent closingl ot' the door by such second person behind him would leave both persone in the ice box, in (lz'irkncei` as shown by Figi. il.

To overcome this, a simple method is einployed. The second person, seeing that the indicator lamp l2 is lit, knows that come one is in the ice box. Fig. 5 represents the condition now zufsliinetl. Hc thereupon opens door 8 and switch l?, automatically cloaca. There if; then current flowing through both wires #ll and 42, leading to switch 2G, and theretore auch second person can throw Switch 255 to the position Shown by dotted line 36, and thus change the sequence ot operation.

Switch 14 is provided tor cutting' out the automatic means in the eventy that switch lo should become detective in either et the positions shown in Figa. 4 and 5. as' by the breakage ot a spring' or the like. ln such case. the lights` could be operated manually by switch as has been tiene heretofore.

Fig. '7 is representation ot'Y the type ot three point. switch which may be need in 't he device of my invention. Referring to Figs. :l and 7, co responding numerals designate correepcnding parte ot the Switches. (loin taets 31 and 38 are fixed, and contact 37 is; adapted tor rotation about a pin 39. It is readily apparent thatI a quarter turn ot the ino fable contact 37 w`ll connect it with contact: 38, and Swweive quarter turns` will altcrnatcly connect it willi contacta ill and IES. 'tlhe contact :il i:-. rotated preferably by a :dongle pusih button a lrangement, not ahown.

t'lince all the uwitchcrs ns1/ed are ot' stand-l ard manufacture. they can loe` very remlily replaced with little eli'ort upon becoming worn or hrolien.

yl`he switch :lliown in Fig, t3 and connected with conductor Li2 and the upper fonductor between lampsy il and l2 and switch 15, is provided to permity manual control ot the lamp il and 'l1/Z it lor an): reason there ahouid be any occasion theretor.

What l claim t l. The co1'nbinati.:n et an electrical circuit comprising' a source ot electrical energy, an electrical element electrically connected with the source ot' electrical energy, a three point switch comprising' a movable contact point, artid movable contact point being' electrically connected with the electrical element, a normally inope 'ative Second switch shunted across the second and third contact pointe` et said three point nwitclu the second switch being` connected with the source ot electrical supply. and an actuatingT device tor actuatincr the three point switch and the Said second Iwitch whereby the actuating device successively actuatee the movable contact point ol' the three point switch between the recanti and third contact points; thereof and also acti atea the Said second mentioned i itch Ytor causing' said aecoud switch -to asi an operative poeition with cach ope 't tion el the :irritating device.

i2. The coinhination of an electrical circuit onip eine; a source 0l electrical energy. an electrical clement clcctrici'illv co 'iieeted with the source ot electrical etici-nv, a three point switch comprising a movable conta 't point. said movable contact point being ciectri fall): connected with the electrical elenient, a icrnially inoperative, f-iecond avitch uhuntcil zero` the eccond and third contact points of Said three point switch, the second switch being connt'fcled with the Source ot electrical supply, and an actuating device toi," actuating the three point switch and the sa l eecond ewitch whereby the actuating` deilucceseively .'ictuatcs the movable contact. g .niet ot the three point ewitcn het veen tue ,lt-cond and third Contact points thcreot and also actuatea the said eecontll mentioned witch tor cauaingf said Se 'ond Switch to an annie :inl vfqierative position with each operin tien oi the ticiimtin; r novice, and means 'for changing.;i 'the sequence of completion and` breaking' ot an electrical circuit through said three point switch. i'

2l. rl`hc combination with an enclosed chamber having a door, of an electrical cirindingj into the chamber and com prieing' an electrical element within the chaniher. a 'three point Switch, a double ecction ot u iringg each wire of Said double :fection h-cinjl' connected with au individual point ct of thc nwitch and arranged 'for :w-

e point e for nizihinir( and the circuit through the electrical clement. and switch actuatiiuf lucana operan tive upon closing; of the door for actuating thc ir t switch and tor holding' the eci-ond #witch in open position.

et. The combination with an enclosed chamber having a door, ot an electrical circuit extendingr into the chamhcr and compriuing' an electri Jal element vithin the chamber, a three poii'A i switch, a double Het tion of wir-ino' cach wire ot Said double section lacing connected with an individual pointV or contact ot' the switch and arranii'cd Vfor yecleztive connection with the third .)oiut ot the awitclu a switch ehunted acres;` the double section ot wiringr t'or (fo-operation with the three point vitch for making and breaking the circuit through the electrical element. means asieociated with the door t'or lc i cono-.fctior'i with the third point ot the ewitch. a witch shouted aci-onu the doublc` .accliou oil wirii tor co-opel 'ino with the thrc :itch

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actuating the switches, and a means (fo-0perative With the double section Ot Wiring;` for Changing* the sequence of the making anti breaking of the circuit.

5. The combination with an enriosed rhamher having a dem, of an electrical lrireuit extending inte the Chamber anti 'nomprirsinji an eiefftriea ei merit Within the ehaniher, a three point switch, a aioube eeen of wirire, eaeh "vire et Said ahnihh ,wwtion bei eenneeied With n miivhhiai peint or ront: t of the evvii'eh and arrankg'efi 'for estive connection vvith the third ya at o the mitch, swh shimtezi :www the deuhhf section Of Wiring im' cfa-olwi'atifm with the three point switch for making ami reah'ing" the circuit through the eieetrieai element, means aweeiateii \vi.h the door for artuatiig ther mvitehes, anti me; f "hr openVV ing' anti Closing the Circuit intlee 1 ientiv o? the three point,v evviteh, tie sh exi svvieh and the means asa@ iaeri vv' deer fer atfuating the svvitehea,

(j. The combination with a chamber hava door controlling aeeees thereto, of an eieeri fai circuit extending rite ehainher mi comprising an electrica] eieaienl within the chamber, a pair 0ij three point switcher: eiecirieaiiv connected with Haiti vireuit in aerien4 with the elect ai eieinent with i the chamber, saiii eieetrirai cir-cuilf Compri#- ing Said pair et three point sw Le and a seetion of paraiiei wiring r extenrhhgl between the three peint svviteaes, a nienlentffirjv Cow tact` ewiteh adjacent the door ant! arranged for operation by the einer, said mfmientarjvf Contact swheh being connected arras-u: the seetien 0f parallel Wiring eainneeingf the pair of three point switches, the'door adapted to ope ate one 01 the three point switchen,

whereby the first movement of the door 0pserate` the momentary Contact Switch for connecting the. paraiiei wiring, rid the seeond i'noveinent of the than' operates the One three peint switch and hreaka the emineetion through the inmnentarj. emita-et switch. the third niovfiiient et the door again completes the eennertinn between the paraiiei wiring' through the infrirnentar'v switch, and the *fourth n10 nient of the :leur Operates the sait! une three peint wviieh and aise artu- ,a the inwznthtarv Gerhart swiiah for again hieahing ihe eieeirieai emmeftion through he inmnenarjf Contact ewith hriveen the @laid imraiei vv T. The ma ehai'nher ha 'il mithin with an eneineeti a door, mi an eeetrirai eir- 11 exif-nv' in-:i the chamber and coni- Ygsinf arri e eieineiit within the ci'iainher, a threer point fnviteh, a (imihie wctivn o wiring', eauh wire et eaiii (imihie ee:-

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imi heir` een, ted with an ii vithiai point or wiigitaet Ut the :-.vth and arranged `for .-eie 'ive reimectimi vwith the third point et' the switch. a switch shuned across they imihie sectien et wirin i'er e0-0pe,=:itif n with the three point svvi 4j1 'for making' and trimming the circuit i'riirofigi-V the electrical deinem, switch artuat ilieaiia; operative, mgm-n eh, of the deur er wthatingT the hist ,awiteh and for hotdirig the Seremi switch in open pnsition, and means for chang e sequence of said making and breaking et the circuit thr nigh said eieetri rai element.

In teetimeny whereof, I have hereunto f1.ih-trribe i my name this 31st day 0f Octoher, 1925.

GEORGE E. KRAEMER. 

